HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20090515_CEMACERT.pdfMayor Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Wanda Doyle, Mayor Pro Tem
Charlie Brewer
Barry Brown
Eddie Crone
Dick Smith
Paul Wolff
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
City Manager
Diane Schleicher
Clerk of Council
Vivian Woods
City Attorney
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contact: Tybee Island Emergency Management Director
For immediate release Jimmy Brown, (912) 786-5330
Chatham Emergency Management Agency Bringing Hurricane Awareness and Certification
Training to Tybee Island
Tybee Island, Ga. – (May 15, 2009) Chatham County’s Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) is
coordinating with Tybee’s Emergency Management Agency to help citizen’s with two sets of seminars on
Tybee.
On June 15th, CEMA will bring a Hurricane and Tornado Awareness Seminar to the Island to people plan
what to do for these weather related emergencies. This seminar will take place in the Tybee Gymnasium
beginning at 7pm, and the general public is invited. No advance registration is required.
The Chatham Emergency Management Agency with GEMA and FEMA has developed the Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to give individuals the skills to assist their community in the
case of a disaster. Starting June 6th, this training for residents of Tybee will get underway. CERT training is
a four week basic skills course in first aid, light search and rescue, fire suppression, and other ways to be of
assistance to your community in time of a disaster. The skills taught during these classes give you the
knowledge to protect and assist you and your family during and immediately after a disaster hits your
neighborhood.
Part of a national program, CERT training can become what you want it to be for you. You can simply take
the skills taught and have the knowledge for yourself, or you can become part of the Tybee CERT team
working on your Island.
In August ’08, Tropical Storm Fay zigzagged across Florida, leaving devastation and lots of water. The
community of Debary wasn’t spared the effects of the storm; CERT volunteers stepped forward and
minimized the damage by filling sandbags, delivering supplies to elderly residents and emergency
responders, staffing of city phones and assisting responding agencies in shelters. During the same storm
46 CERT volunteers in Lee County, FL donated their time to help ensure the safety of 600 residents affected
by the storm during the six weeks recovery.
Teams of all sizes and skills have formed throughout the State of Georgia. Classes will take place June 6,
13, 20, and 27 starting at 8:30 AM in room 6 of the Old School Building. Pre-registration is required as the
class size is limited to 20. Call Virginia Mobley, 238-9972 for more details and information.
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
About Tybee Island, Ga.:
The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanct uary, over
three miles of ocean beaches and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a
key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee Fort Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island
and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for hi story
buffs. Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year
round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest, the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the
Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off the Parker Pier
and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching f or
nests, protecting their eggs, and making sure hatchlings make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/,
and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.org/.
For information about the products of Whelen Engineering Co., Inc., visit their web site it http://www.whelen.com/.
Chatham County Emergency Management Agency provides a broad array of information and services related to emergency
planning at http://cema.chathamcounty.org/.
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Copies of this release can also be found at http://www.cityoftybee.org/PressReleases.aspx